Conference: When the cemetery becomes political – dealing with the religious heritage in multi-ethnic regions: Cyprus, Libanon, the Balkans

Dealing with religious heritage (churches, cemeteries, etc.) of the other ethnic and religious groups in divided Cyprus is an ongoing debate on the island. In Cyprus - as well as in other countries - religious heritage is being used for political agitation as well as for influencing and even abusing the social discourse. The aim of the conference is to evaluate how Cyprus currently deals with its religious heritage and to compare this to the situation in other countries and regions, which also have a multi-ethnic population structure. Furthermore, ways shall be discussed how a respectful treatment of the religious heritage of the respective other ethnic group can lead to peaceful cooperation and understanding between different ethnic groups - namely ethnic groups, whose relationship is burdened by a history of conflict.